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Naeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer who had participated in under-19 camps, was among those shot. He died in hospital. Another man, Mohammad Iqbal, and an elderly woman, Raja Begum, were also killed while six people were injured.

The army later regretted the firing. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the Centre has assured her of an investigation.

The incident has triggered widespread protests.

Mehbooba Mufti said: "Such tragic incidents have a huge negative impact on the efforts of the government and political leadership in bringing peace to state."

The army firing followed protests over the allegation of a college girl being molested by a solider.

Security forces opened fire when some 500 protesters surrounded an army post, tried to set it on fire and threw stones at soldiers.

Reinforcements were sent to check any escalation of violence and curfew was clamped in Handwara and also in parts of Srinagar..

Protesting the army action, separatists have called for a strike across the Kashmir Valley.